By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Facing a House panel after being cleared of all drug charges against her, former Senator Leila de Lima on Monday (29 July 2024) stood firm in her accusation that ex-President Rodrigo Roa Duterte was behind the bloody campaign against illegal drugs.
Police records said those killed reached around 6,000 based on police records, but human rights groups maintained that the deaths reached as high as 30,000.
“There is no doubt in my mind that former President Duterte is the mastermind, instigator and inducer of drug war killings,” de Lima said during the House Committee on Human Rights hearing on the so-called extra-judicial killings (EJKs) during the Duterte administration.
De Lima and former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde showed up as resource persons during the committee hearing chaired by Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr.
During Duterte’s term, Albayalde served as the PNP chief from April 2018 to October 2019 and also as regional director of the National Capital Region Police Office from July 2016 to April 2018.
“He (Duterte) must be prosecuted and convicted and he should spend the rest of his life in prison,” de Lima said.
Abante also chided Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa who served as PNP chief during the Duterte administration, for the latter’s previous comment that drug war killings were “collateral damage.”
(el Amigo/mnm)
